Democrat George McGonigal looks to retain his seat on Common Council.

In May, Democrat George McGonigal told a local publication he was "95 percent sure" he was running for re-election as First Ward Alderman.

His name will appear on the ballot in the Nov. 3 general election, and he says he’s approaching this election cycle with unfinished business to attend to in City Hall.

The landscaper, first elected in 2011, said he still sees numerous issues, in his ward and at the city level, that he said he feels he is well-qualified to address. He has been campaigning on a platform of quality-of-life issues, conscious development and local labor.

“I know how the city works now better than I did two years ago,” McGonigal said. “I plan with a better skill set. I know the city staff much better, the process … I think I can be more effective simply because I’ve already been doing it for a while.”

In contrast, his opponent, self-described anarchist James Lukasavage, is a newcomer to city politics and has never held office.

The election is Nov. 3, and polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. The First Ward is the city's largest ward and contains South Hill, West Hill and parts of East Hill.

McGonigal’s district includes the troubled West Village Apartments complex, which he said will continue to be a primary focus if re-elected. McGonigal said he and fellow First Ward Alderperson Cynthia Brock have been making a door-to-door push in the complex. The two recently met with Ithaca Police Chief John Barber as well as the owner, management, security team and residents of West Village.

McGonigal said the meeting yielded a number of areas in which the neighborhood would try to improve. One area is improving security. To that end, a pair of apartments are being offered rent-free to city police officers if they agree to live there.

Stance on development

McGonigal is a known opponent of "out-of-character" housing development in the city, and said he will continue to oppose large-scale projects and developments that don't align with the priorities of city residents.

“I get in trouble for this, but to me, it’s about scale,” McGonigal said. “It’s what fits in the community. It’s true to the Trebloc proposal, in terms of space. But it’s also true to the other developments like INHS is doing. They have to meet certain unit requirements to get the grants they get, and that’s why they proposed a four-story building on Hancock Street and a large building component of their complex on Stone Quarry.”

McGonigal is not shy about his stance on Stone Quarry. He said the structure was out of character in terms of its scale compared to the surrounding neighborhood, and is also situated at one of the most dangerous intersections in the city. He said he went door-to-door at the complex and, after meeting with many of the residents, said his mind could be open to other similar developments in the future, given they fit with the neighborhood vibe, and the complex, so far, had been better than he'd thought it might be.

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The front gate of Stone Quarry Apartments, with the front side of the main building in the background.(Photo: NICK REYNOLDS / Staff Photo)

McGonigal is also an advocate for the skilled labor force. He said he wants to encourage more local developers to build in the city and use local labor whenever possible. He said his main emphasis will be on promoting job-creating development in the light industrial sector, utilizing open tracts of land on the west end and on the waterfront, as well as favoring small-business development over national chains.

“If we encourage small, local developers, they know what people in this town want,” McGonigal said. “If we encourage small businesses on Inlet Island to come in, it’s going to be a more vibrant area. If we say we want yet another national hotel chain or some big condo developer, that’s going to drive locals out. That’s not what I’m in favor of.”

City income

McGonigal sees the need for smart expansion and income growth in the city.

“The easy answer is for Cornell to contribute more and for Ithaca College to contribute anything,” McGonigal said. “It’s an easy answer, but a valid answer. They use a tremendous amount of city services. Police coverage on South Hill, for example; on weekends, it’s almost entirely related to IC student activity. Obviously, new businesses would create new tax revenue.”

Businesses McGonigal would be interested in lobbying for would largely be in the manufacturing sector, which he said he thinks could flourish in the west end of the city, already home to a pair of business parks.

“It’d be great to fill them with outfits that require skilled workers with good wages,” McGonigal said. “This used to be an industrial town, and it would be nice if we had some factory jobs. Cherry Street has been doing pretty well, and there’s room to add down there. Certainly, the infill downtown is going to help, and to (Svante Myrick's) credit, he’s gotten a lot more housing in this town since he’s become mayor.”